Students participating in the PATH Academy summer internship program (Courtesy of Alice Lee)
To meet California’s demand for health care workers, California State University, Fullerton created the Advancing and Transforming Health Care Professions Academy to introduce undergraduate students to career opportunities in the health care field.
Funded by three grants totaling $3 million from the California Healthcare Access Information Agency, PATH Academy is centered around four student support programs.
“The overall goal of the PATH Academy is to support and train students, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds, to pursue careers in the health professions through academic mentoring, experiential learning and community partnerships,” said Alice Lee, associate professor of public health.
Alice Lee, associate professor of public health (Courtesy of Alice Lee)
Lee co-founded and directs the program with David Shenot, professor emeritus of social work. Undergraduate majors ideal for the program include public health, human services, psychology, kinesiology, child and adolescent studies, communication disorders, nursing and biological sciences.
Participating students are eligible to receive scholarships ranging from $500 to $15,000, depending on support programs and budget considerations.
The PATH Academy is funded until 2028 and focuses on all health-related careers, including allied health professions such as public health, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology therapy, social work and counselling.
Lee said the demand for health care workers is expected to increase significantly across the state over the next decade, and with that comes the need to prepare the right workforce for the communities they serve.
“California is facing a healthcare worker shortage that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in a mass exodus of healthcare workers,” Lee said.
According to the Health Resources and Services Administration, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, workforce demand for allied health professionals is projected to grow 23% by 2036. For behavioral health professionals, the increase is projected to be 62%.
“It’s important to expose students to health professions and fully prepare them to serve California’s diverse communities,” said Lee, who studies cancer epidemiology and health disparities.
Brittany Merino Galdames, a communication disorders major, presents her research as a PATH Academy participant (Courtesy of Alice Lee)
To date, more than 200 students have participated in PATH Academy programs and events.
Undergraduate Residency Program: A one-year academic program that introduces students to health-related careers and prepares them for graduate school and the workplace. Research Scholars Program: A six-week summer research experience that pairs undergraduates with a faculty mentor to work on a health-related project. Summer Internship Program: A 10-week hands-on intern experience with community partners such as the Orange County Health Department. Post-Undergraduate Fellowship Program: A one-year internship with the Orange County Health Department. For recent graduates who have completed their undergraduate degree at CSUF and are applying to a health-related graduate program. Health Pathways Fair: A community and educational event where CSUF, community college and high school students learn about health-related careers, majors and programs. The next fair will be held in March.
Lee said all PATH Academy programs and events, including the Health Pathways Fair, are scheduled to be held annually with a goal of engaging more than 1,200 students by the end of the funding period.
“We hope that PATH Academy students receive the academic, financial, social and emotional support they need to complete their studies and graduate,” said Lee. “We also hope that students feel connected to the health professional community and gain confidence and motivation to pursue their health care career goals.”
